Jugulator amplissimus
| Jugulator amplissimus Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Eutriconodonta |
| Family: | †Triconodontidae |
| Subfamily: | †Alticonodontinae |
| Genus: | †Jugulator Cifelli & Madsen, 1998 |
| Species: | †J. amplissimus
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Jugulator amplissimus Cifelli & Madsen, 1998
| |
Jugulatoris an extinct genus ofmammalsfrom theCretaceousofNorth America.It contains one species,Jugulator amplissimus.Aeutriconodont,it is known from theCedar Mountain Formation,and is both a large sized and possibly ecologically specialised taxon, showcasing the diversity of mammals in theMesozoic.[1]
Description
[edit]Jugulatoris known primarily from isolated teeth and dentaries. The species is most distinctive in regards to its large size, being among the largest mammals in the region, some lower molars exceeding 5 mm in length and with an estimated body weight of about 750 g. The medial lower incisor is greatly enlarged, with a mitten-shaped crown that bears sharp cutting surfaces.[1][2]
Phylogeny
[edit]Always recognised as atriconodontideutriconodont,[1]the most recent phylogenetic studies recoverJugulatoras the sister taxon of a clade comprisingVolaticotherium,Ichthyoconodon,Triconolestes,andArgentoconodon,known asVolaticotherini.[3][4]
Cladogramafter Gaetano & Rougier, 2011:[3]
Biology
[edit]Jugulatoris noted as being a rather large mammal for Mesozoic standards.[1]Combined with the general adaptations for carnivory that eutriconodonts display, it is safe to say that it was a predator of other vertebrates like mammals, lizards and small dinosaurs. Other large eutriconodonts likeRepenomamusandGobiconodonshow evidence of scavenging and direct predation on such creatures, so it is likely thatJugulatoralso displayed these behaviours.[2]
Ecology
[edit]Jugulatoroccurs in the mid-Cretaceous deposits of theCedar Mountain Formation,where several of North America's more iconic dinosaurs likeUtahraptorandCedarosaurusoccur. A large variety of mammal species are known from here as well, including other eutriconodonts likeAstroconodonandCorviconodonas well asmultituberculateslikeCedaromysandJanumysand severaltherianmammals such asMontanalestesandAtokatheridium.These diverse mammal faunas offer a transition from dominant taxa in theEarly Cretaceousand the multituberculate and therian dominated laurasian mammalian faunas of theLate Cretaceous.
References
[edit]- ^abcdCifelli, Richard L.; Madsen, Scott K. (1998). "Triconodont mammals from the medial Cretaceous of Utah".Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.18(2): 403–411.Bibcode:1998JVPal..18..403C.doi:10.1080/02724634.1998.10011068.
- ^abKielan-Jaworowska, Zofia; Cifelli, Richard L.; Luo, Zhe-Xi (2004). "Chapter 7: Eutriconodontans".Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure.New York: Columbia University Press. pp.216–248.ISBN0-231-11918-6.
- ^abGaetano, Leandro C.; Rougier, Guillermo W. (2011). "New materials ofArgentoconodon fariasorum(Mammaliaformes, Triconodontidae) from the Jurassic of Argentina and its bearing on triconodont phylogeny ".Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.31(4): 829–843.Bibcode:2011JVPal..31..829G.doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.589877.hdl:11336/68497.S2CID85069761.
- ^A. O. Averianov and A. V. Lopatin. 2011. Phylogeny of Triconodonts and Symmetrodonts and the Origin of Extant Mammals. Doklady Biological Sciences 436:32-35 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
